Saudi acts against illegal workers, businesses

Riyadh, March 19, 2013

Saudi Arabia's Cabinet yesterday announced new measures against illegal foreign workers who violate the Kingdom’s residency and labour laws, a report said.

The move also targets illegal coverup businesses also, said the Arab News report.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence, decided to enact a new law banning sponsors from allowing their employees to work for others. The new law also applies to foreigners who have run away from sponsors, as well as employers of illegal workers, Saudis who shelter foreigner businesses and those who shelter and transport illegal workers.

The report quoted Abdullah Al-Anazi, director general of the department to fight tasattur (cover up business) at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as saying foreigners involved in illegal cover-up businesses transferred more than SR140 billion to their countries annually.

The majority of tasattur business takes place in the contracting sector (43 percent), followed by retail trade (19.2 percent) and general trade (16 percent), the report said.

The number of undocumented workers in the Kingdom could reach two million, the report said.

The Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Labor to inspect facilities and investigate irregularities discovered by the inspectors, it said.